BIO: Samuel W. GILL, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 265-266.
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  SAMUEL W. GILL, Aitch, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Penn 
township, Huntingdon county, November 22, 1838, son of Robert and Lydia 
(Norris) Gill. Robert Gill was a native of the northern part of 
Ireland, near Belfast. He was a blacksmith. At twenty-one years of age 
he came to this country with his brother William, in a sailing vessel, 
landing in Philadelphia after a voyage of six weeks. He first found 
employment at his trade for a year at Williamsburg, Blair county, Pa., 
and after that in Penn township, where he followed the same calling for 
several years, and also farmed for his father-in-law, John Norris, 
remaining altogether fourteen years. He then purchased a farm of 200 
acres in Hares valley, Clay township. This place he greatly improved, 
building a house and barn and adding various facilities for 
agricultural work. He cultivated this land for six years, then rented 
it and removed to Marklesburg, where he opened a smithy, and labored at 
the forge for twelve years. Mr. Gill then removed to a farm in Penn 
township, and later bought the one now owned by Nathan Snare, on which 
he resided for eleven years. In 1866, having bought a farm in Burt 
county, Neb., Mr. Gill removed there, but in the same year he died and 
was buried there. His brother William fixed his residence in Tyrone, 
Blair county, Pa., carried on the business of a blacksmith and died in 
that town. The children of Robert and Lydia (Norris) Gill are: Sarah A. 
(Mrs. Thomas Marlin), of Washington; John S., of Phillipsburg, Centre 
county, Pa.; James, of California, deceased; Allen, of the State of 
Washington; Mary J., deceased, wife of Alexander Corbin, of Nebraska; 
Samuel W.; George W., enlisted in Company C, Fifty-third Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, died November 28, 1862, and is buried in the Military 
Asylum Cemetery, Washington, D.C.; Thomas H., of Nebraska; Isabella 
(Mrs. William Olinger), of Nebraska; Elizabeth (Mrs. Frederick 
Michael), of Nebraska; Robert, of the State of Washington; and one that 
died an infant. Mrs. Robert Gill died in Nebraska. Mr. Gill was a 
Democrat. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
  Samuel W. Gill received his education in the common schools of Penn 
township, and of Marklesburg, Pa. He learned his father's trade, and 
worked at the forge for fourteen years. He then spent three years on a 
rented farm in Penn township, now Lincoln township. On September 16, 
1861, occurred one of the greatest events of his life, his enlistment 
at Marklesburg in Company C, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. 
J. R. Brooke, Capt. John H. Wintrode. From Camp Curtin, at Harrisburg, 
Pa., the regiment went to Washington, D.C. Mr. Gill was also at camp 
California, and in the battles of Fair Oaks, the Seven Days, the Second 
Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. At the last named place, he 
received a bullet wound in the arm, and was in the hospital at 
Washington City for one month. After a fifty days' furlough, he 
returned to the Washington Hospital, and was there for a month more; 
then he rejoined his regiment at Falmouth, Va. He was in the battle at 
Chancellorsville, and returned after that defeat to Falmouth. He was 
also at the great battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the 
leg. This obliged him to spend three months in the hospital at 
Baltimore, from that place he was sent to the convalescent camp in 
Virginia, after which he again joined his regiment, and re-enlisted for 
three years. Mr. Gill was detailed for picket duty on the Rappahannock; 
was under fire for two weeks in the Wilderness; and at Spottsylvania 
Court House was taken prisoner, but rescued by his comrades. He took 
part in the battles of North Anna, South Anna and Poe River. At Cold 
Harbor he was under fire for two weeks, day and night; during that 
fight, the Union army being repulsed, Mr. Gill was left alone on the 
field, and was obliged to hide in a picket-hole, where he passed three 
days with no nourishment but ten crackers. In March, 1864, Mr. Gill was 
made corporal; at Cold Harbor he received his promotion to the rank of 
sergeant. At Ream's Station, August 21, 1864, Sergeant Gill was 
captured and taken to Petersburg, where everything in his possession at 
the time was taken from him, and he was sent to Libby prison. Three 
weeks later he was transferred to Belle Isle, where he was held for six 
weeks, and then again transferred to Salisbury, N.C., where he spent a 
weary five months. Wasted by hardships and privation until, having lost 
sixty pounds in weight, he was reduced to a walking skeleton, Mr. Gill 
was at length paroled. One week he passed in the hospital at Richmond, 
Va.; then three weeks in the hospital at Annapolis, Md.; two weeks more 
in Baltimore, in the hospital, when he received the welcome furlough 
which allowed him to spend thirty days at home. That brief rest over, 
he was once more for two weeks in the Baltimore hospital, and then for 
a month at the fort on Federal Hill. Then he rejoined his regiment at 
Alexandria, Va., and after three weeks was discharged, June 18, 1865, 
as a prisoner of war. Mr. Gill is one of those to whom their country 
owes a deep debt of gratitude; but after all, the veteran whose 
patriotism and courage have sustained him through so many thrilling 
experiences, finds his best reward in the consciousness of duty 
faithfully and nobly fulfilled.
  Once more at home, Mr. Gill turned his attention for a year and a 
half to lime burning, after which he bought a small place in Penn 
township, and resided on it for four years. Then for three years he 
worked as a farm laborer, after which he took up his abode on his 
little estate, and worked as repairman for the Huntingdon and Broad Top 
R.R. In 1879, six years after, he purchased his present farm, where he 
has ever since resided. He has much improved the place by buildings, 
etc., and now cultivates it, and raises and deals in live stock. Mr. 
Gill is a Republican. He has served his township as judge of elections 
and supervisor of roads.
  Samuel W. Gill was married in 1865, in Huntingdon, to Annie, daughter 
of Jacob and Hannah (Beaver) Stover. Mrs. Gill was born in Walker 
township, Huntingdon county, September 17, 1843; her parents are of 
German descent; Mr. Stover is a native of Blair county; he cultivated 
his farm in Walker township; he died several years ago. The children of 
Mr. and Mrs. Gill are: Clara J. (Mrs. Andrew Merritt), of Saxton, 
Bedford county, Pa.; Frank S., farmer; James M., farmer; Mary B., wife 
of Isaac Gahagan, a farmer of Walker township; Wesley N., of Illinois; 
Clement W., farmer; Lydia H.; Cora A.; John J.; and Andrew W. Mr. Gill 
is a member of the Reformed church, and has been a teacher in the 
Sunday-school. He is a worthy and esteemed citizen.